Neo-corporatism and Canadian agricultural interest groups

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Abstract

The organization of interest groups in the Canadian agricultural sector is highly
differentiated on the basis of both territory and function. This finding has encouraged
some scholars to describe and discuss the structure and operation of the system of interest
groups in the Canadian agricultural sector within the framework of a neo-corporatist
system of interest representation. They conclude that several elements found within
Canadian agricultural sector are elements usually found within a neo-corporatist system of
interest representation. They also state that the level of neo-corporatism within this sector
was particularly high before the 1982-83 renegotiations of the grain freight rates commonly
referred to as the "Crow rate debate".
This thesis questions the assertion that neo-corporatist elements exist within the
Canadian agricultural sector. In order to do so, this thesis examines the system of interest
representation in the Canadian agricultural community prior to 1982 against the background
of several indicators of neo-corporatism which have been developed from Philippe
Schmitter's definition of neo-corporatism.
This thesis argues that the system of interest groups in the Canadian agricultural sector
is not neo-corporatist in nature. The thesis also argues that certain characteristics of the
agricultural sector, and Canadian political culture in general, create a climate that is hostile
to the development of a neo-corporatist system of interest representation.